FAST. NEW. DRIVEN.
byGREG KABLEFIRST
FANG!T
he 695 Biposto is the fastest
and most powerful modern-day
Abarth model yet. Created to
celebrate the 50th anniversary
of the iconic Abarth 695, the stripped-
out two-seat hatchback comes with a raft
of performance enhancing developments
from the Assetto Corse racecar.
Power comes from a heavily reworked
version of Fiat’s 1.4-litre T-Jet petrol
engine, with a new Garrett turbocharger,
larger intercooler, altered fuel rail and
Akrapovic exhaust system. The unit
delivers 140kW at 5500rpm – 22kW
more than the standard Abarth 500.
Buyers can choose between a standard
six-speed manual gearbox (maximum
249Nm) and an optional race-bred five-
speed dog-ring ’box (maximum 270Nm)
mated to a mechanical limited-slip diff.
The standard Abarth’s MacPherson
strut and torsion beam suspension has
been comprehensively reworked, with
much firmer springs, wider tracks,
adjustable ride height and front dampers,and more resilient bushings. The brakes
have also been revised, with 305mm
Brembo discs and four-pot calipers up
front and 240mm discs with single-pot
calipers at the rear.
The interior has been pared back to
net a 38kg saving in kerb weight over
the standard Abarth 500. Gone are the
rear seats, standard door inserts, air
conditioning, radio and a good deal of
sound-deadening material.
Deep racing seats offer plenty of lateral
support but are mounted rather high. As
with the exterior, polished carbonfibre
abounds throughout. There’s also new
pedals, tread plates and a sturdy strut
brace across the rear of the cabin – all
fashioned from titanium.
On road, the 695 Biposto pulls away
cleanly, with impressive flexibility at
lower revs. However, its engine needs
some coaxing with your right foot before
it really begins to deliver the sort of
shove you expect from a car flaunting
serious track pretensions. Once you’veAbarth 695 Biposto
Mad little hot hatch, with an equally kooky price tag
Biposto makes about
as much sense as a
chocolate teapot,
but we can’t help but
love its lunacy – it’s
coming to Oz, too!got it percolating beyond 3000rpm,
there is a clear lift in performance as
the turbocharger spools up with full
force. Keep it pegged and the Biposto
hauls to the 6500rpm redline with great
enthusiasm and a wonderfully raspy
exhaust note.
More than the engine, though, it is
the race gearbox that really moulds the
car’s on-track character. Endowed with
an open metal gate and a tall shift lever
perfectly positioned a hand’s width away
from the steering wheel, it channels the
engine’s reserves with fabulous speed.
It’s the clear preference for anyone who
intends to take the Biposto on a circuit
regularly, though the manual ’box might
be the smarter choice for everyday use.
In dry conditions, the Biposto is
claimed to hit 100km/h in 5.9sec, two
seconds faster than the standard Abarth- However, we have reservations
about its ability to get power down
cleanly in the wet. On a smooth surface,
the 695 Biposto’s racing genes are
Worldmags.netWorldmags.net